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Top 5 Tips for Layering

One of our favorite desserts is mille-feuille, a multi-layered French cake created with layers of puff pastry, pastry cream, and confectioner’s sugar. There’s something about the way that the pastry chef delicately layers the flavors that makes this cake of “a thousand leaves” absolutely delicious.

Just as the proper layering of mille-feuille ingredients is critical for the pastry chef, so is the proper layering of your skin care products important for your skin care regime. With that in mind, here are the standard Top 5 Tips for Layering to keep in mind when applying skin care products.

Tip 1: Start Clean. Begin by cleansing your face with a cleanser that is formulated for your skin type and skin care concern. “Proper cleansing is critical for preparing the skin for other products”, says San Diego aesthetician Rebecca Lisenbury. “I always advise my clients to not skip this important step.”

Tip 2: Toner, Serum, Lotion - in that order. Order your layers from thinnest to densest for best results. In the same way that you would layer clothing to protect against the cold weather by starting with the thinnest material closest to your skin and finishing with a winter jacket, so should you layer your skin care products. While your skin care regimen may not include toner, serum, AND lotion, adjust your layering protocol to the formulation that you use, starting with the lightest formulation and finishing with the heaviest. Visit a licensed skin care physician who offers professional products, and who is skilled in evaluating the unique needs of your skin to learn your best options for a skin care routine.

Tip 3: Seal the Deal. Proper hydration will help create an optimal cover in order to provide the most benefit to your skin. Some moisturizers, including Obagi Hydrate, work by helping the skin hold on to its own moisture by sealing it in.1

Tip 4: Finish with Sunscreen. No skin care layering practice would be complete without sunscreen. It is possibly the most important product you could put on your face. Perri, one of Obagi’s Senior Education Managers, says, “It’s essential to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVB (burning) rays and UVA (tanning and premature aging) rays. Research shows that both UVB and UVA rays are culprits in the development of skin cancer, as well.2* I always choose a product with a broad spectrum SPF of at least 30 and apply it as my last step in the morning before makeup.”

Tip 5: Makeup Last. Look for a sunscreen that can be applied under makeup, which is the final step in your product layering practice. In fact, if you follow our Tips 1-4, you will probably find that your makeup stays looking fresher, longer, and that will help you truly show your best face to the world.

So there you have it, the Top 5 Tips for Layering skin care products. What do you think - did we miss anything? Share your favorite tips in the comments below.

* Using a broad spectrum sunscreen like Obagi® Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 50 together with a comprehensive sun protection program including wearing sun protective clothing and sunglasses and avoiding the sun between the hours of 10am-2pm may help reduce the risk of premature skin aging.

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Obagi Systems and Products are physician-dispensed and should be used only under the guidance of your skin care physician. Please be advised that certain products have limited distribution and may not be available in your area. Please contact your Obagi skin care physician for more information.

Important Safety Information for Obagi Nu-Derm Clear and Blender®

(contains 4% hydroquinone)

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
People with prior history of sensitivity or allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients should not use it. The safety of topical hydroquinone use during pregnancy or in children (12 years and under) has not been established.

WARNINGS:
Avoid contact with eyes, nose, mouth, or lips. In case of accidental contact, patient should rinse eyes, nose, mouth, or lips with water and contact physician.

Sunscreen use is an essential aspect of hydroquinone therapy because even minimal sunlight exposure sustains melanocytic activity.

Contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.

PRECAUTIONS (ALSO SEE WARNINGS):
Treatment should be limited to relatively small areas of the body at one time since some patients experience a transient skin reddening and a mild burning sensation, which does not preclude treatment.

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with topical hydroquinone. It is also not known whether hydroquinone can cause fetal harm when used topically on a pregnant woman or affect reproductive capacity. It is not known to what degree, if any, topical hydroquinone is absorbed systemically. Topical hydroquinone should be used on pregnant women only when clearly indicated.

Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether topical hydroquinone is absorbed or excreted in human milk. Caution is advised when topical hydroquinone is used by a nursing mother.

Pediatric Usage: Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 12 years have not been established.

Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
People with prior history of sensitivity or allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients should not use it. The safety of topical hydroquinone use during pregnancy or in children (12 years and under) has not been established.

WARNINGS:
Avoid contact with eyes, nose, mouth, or lips. In case of accidental contact, patient should rinse eyes, nose, mouth, or lips with water and contact physician.

Sunscreen use is an essential aspect of hydroquinone therapy because even minimal sunlight exposure sustains melanocytic activity.

Contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.

PRECAUTIONS (ALSO SEE WARNINGS):
Treatment should be limited to relatively small areas of the body at one time since some patients experience a transient skin reddening and a mild burning sensation, which does not preclude treatment.

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with topical hydroquinone. It is also not known whether hydroquinone can cause fetal harm when used topically on a pregnant woman or affect reproductive capacity. It is not known to what degree, if any, topical hydroquinone is absorbed systemically. Topical hydroquinone should be used on pregnant women only when clearly indicated.

Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether topical hydroquinone is absorbed or excreted in human milk. Caution is advised when topical hydroquinone is used by a nursing mother.

Pediatric Usage: Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 12 years have not been established.

Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
People with prior history of sensitivity or allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients should not use it. The safety of topical hydroquinone use during pregnancy or in children (12 years and under) has not been established.

WARNINGS:
Avoid contact with eyes, nose, mouth, or lips. In case of accidental contact, patient should rinse eyes, nose, mouth, or lips with water and contact physician.

Sunscreen use is an essential aspect of hydroquinone therapy because even minimal sunlight exposure sustains melanocytic activity.

Contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.

PRECAUTIONS (ALSO SEE WARNINGS):
Treatment should be limited to relatively small areas of the body at one time since some patients experience a transient skin reddening and a mild burning sensation, which does not preclude treatment.

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with topical hydroquinone. It is also not known whether hydroquinone can cause fetal harm when used topically on a pregnant woman or affect reproductive capacity. It is not known to what degree, if any, topical hydroquinone is absorbed systemically. Topical hydroquinone should be used on pregnant women only when clearly indicated.

Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether topical hydroquinone is absorbed or excreted in human milk. Caution is advised when topical hydroquinone is used by a nursing mother.

Pediatric Usage: Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 12 years have not been established.

Use of the product should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients is noted.